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Dean Taucher's “Reel Stories — Made in New York,“ which will be offered as a staged reading at Bay Street Theater on March 6. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Veteran film and television production designer and Sag Harbor resident Dean Taucher presents his behind-the-scenes stories from the darkly ironic, shocking and wonderfully weird underpinnings of Hollywood through a series of interweaving monologues in his new comedy “Reel Stories — Made in New York,” which will be offered as a staged reading in Sag Harbor with one exclusive performance on Monday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Bay Street Theater.
Taucher, whose credits include “Miami Vice,” “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order SVU” and “New York Undercover,” offers a colorful glimpse of maniacal movie stars, homicidal teamsters, clueless starlets, outrageous harassment seminars more foul than fair and cash-obsessed writers and producers running the gamut from creative to criminal. In “Reel Stories,” all of the material is sourced straight from the sets of the nearly 500 TV episodes he designed.
The stellar, all-star cast assembled for the Bay Street Theater performance includes two-time Obie Award-winner and Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominated Broadway legend Charlayne Woodard, making her East End debut. Woodard’s extensive roles as a playwright and performer include Broadway shows “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “HAIR,” M. Night Shyamalan’s notable films “Unbreakable” and “Glass,” TV series “Chicago Hope,” “Law and Order SVU” and the soon to be released Marvel TV miniseries “Secret Invasion,” where she stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson.
Joining Woodard in “Reel Stories” will be Drama Desk-award winning Broadway stage actor Jay O. Sanders, well known for several starring roles at the Public Theater including “The Apple Family Plays” and more appearances at The Delacorte than any actor to date. Also known for his roles in the films “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Glory” and “Revolutionary Road,” Sanders like Taucher, worked on many television projects with producers Michael Mann and Dick Wolf. Kelly AuCoin, a television star known for his roles on “Billions (as “Dollar” Bill Stearn), “The Americans” and “House of Cards,” as well as major regional and New York theater credits, rounds out the ensemble.
“Reel Stories” is directed by Shannon Patterson of The Barrow Group Performing Arts Center in Manhattan and produced by Josh Gladstone, longtime artistic director of the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, now an independent producer. The play was first read at Manhattan’s Theatre Row in December 2021, garnering favorable commentary from industry colleagues. In Taucher’s words, “Nothing may be true — but they are all ‘Reel Stories — Made in New York.’”
“I am thrilled to bring this play to the Hamptons. My wife, Gabrielle Lansner, and I live in Sag Harbor and this play, which is a product of COVID isolation, was conceived during the many hours I spent on my boat in the waters of Sag Harbor,” said Taucher. “After 40 years working behind the scenes to bring to life some of the most celebrated made for TV dramas and films, it’s time to bring the real-life drama and those who cause it into the spotlight. The biggest fish in the Hollywood pond are unpleasant, self-centered and perpetuating a culture that desperately needs to change. These are their stories; uncensored, unfiltered and completely unbelievable.”
“What a treat to gather such a remarkable cast for a delicious night of dark dish served up free on the finest stage in our neighborhood,” added Gladstone. “Kudos to [Bay Street Theater Executive Director] Tracy Mitchell and our partners at Bay Street for welcoming the community in to experience these magnificent artists developing this sharp, new play.”
Admission to the performance is free and reservations are strongly recommended. An informal meet-and-greet with the cast in Bay Street’s lobby follows the performance. Bay Street Theater is on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Tickets may be reserved at baystreet.org.
Staff Writer on Feb 10, 2023